The Perfect Immigrant

Here’s a short video called The Perfect Immigrant by Sastre Rogelio, which played as part of the Athens Video Art Festival in 2010. Submissions for 2011 are now closed and choices will be announced in April. We’re posting the video today in solidarity with the hundreds of North African migrants who have been hospitalized in Greece after over a month of hunger striking. From the Guardian:

Three hundred mostly north African migrant workers have refused to eat until the Greek government issues them with residency permits. The stand-off has put the socialist administration of George Papandreou increasingly on the defensive as the hunger strikers vowed to continue their protest into a sixth week.

“For 41 days I have gone without food and since Wednesday noon I have refused water,” said Morrocan Elktif Belaid, who walked through the Sahara before hiking and hustling his way into Greece.

“But what to do? Greece has treated us very badly. All we want is what we deserve, official documents and a bit of respect. To be an immigrant is not a crime. It is not forbidden. We will continue our strike until we are vindicated, or die.”